Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Let’s Play Two…With No Break

Hoo-boy, the night game to day game turnaround is a tough one, but today's is going to be even worse than usual. The Cubs pulled out an 8-6 victory in 18 innings last night (not the only 18-inning game in the majors last night, incredibly), but it took two innings from today's scheduled starter, Rich Hill, which means they have about 3 hours to figure out who's going to start today. The Cubs used all 25 of their players in the game -- both Carlos Zambrano and Carlos Marmol pinch-hit in extra-innings -- and six players (Juan Pierre, Jacque Jones, and the entire infield of Aramis Ramirez, Cesar Izturis, Ronny Cedeno, and John Mabry) played the entire game. Both Pierre and Mabry went 1-for-8, while Cedeno went 1-for-7. I'm predicting an infield of Neifi!, Ryan Theriot, Cedeno, and Phil Nevin today, with Angel Pagan starting in place of Jones against the lefty Pettitte today. As far as today's starter goes, it's not as easy as disabling someone and dipping down to AAA, as all the potential Iowa callups (Ryu, Williams, and the rehabbing Marshall) would be pitching on 0-3 days rest. The starter from five days ago, lefty Ryan O'Malley, isn't on the 40-man roster. This is sort of interesting, though -- the scheduled starter in tonight's game is a rehabbing Wade Miller, who threw five days ago at West Tenn. It's supposed to be his final rehab start, and it's in Round Rock, which is about four hours from Houston. I would not be surprised to see him called up to start this afternoon, with Angel Guzman, who was set to be skipped but threw three innings last night, sent down to make room, and neither would Phil Rogers. Speaking of Rogers, I give him a hard time a lot of the time, so it's worth pointing out that I agree 100% with his "Give up on Prior? You're crazy!" column from Monday. I couldn't have said it better myself, Phil. [UPDATE 10:40 AM] Pretty much no sooner did I type that than word comes via the comments that the Cubs may have, in fact, called up O'Malley. No official word on who was sent down or disabled to make room, but the way Scott Eyre looked limping off the field last night, I'm guessing it's him. O'Malley is a 26-year old lefty who was undrafted out of Memphis and signed with the Cubs in /02. He pitched very well at A and AA as a reliever and occasional starter, but in both '04 and '05 he struggled in callups to AAA: 2004 A+ Daytona: 2.64 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 27 H, 6 BB, 28 K 2004 AA West Tenn: 3.72 ERA, 55 2/3 IP, 49 H, 20 BB, 37 K 2004 AAA Iowa: 8.62 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 23 H, 6 BB, 8 K 2005 AA West Tenn: 3.91 ERA, 78 1/3 IP, 78 IP, 25 BB, 55 K 2005 AAA Iowa: 6.33 ERA, 27 IP, 40 H, 11 BB, 26 K This year he's started more than he's relieved, and in 123 2/3 innings he's put up a 4.08 ERA, given up 135 hits, walked 30, and struck out 71. He has a mid-80s fastball who pitches to contact. He's described as a "control pitcher" but has walked 2/7 batters per 9 innings in his minor-league career, which doesn't bode well. According to this Inside The Ivy article, he doesn't like being called a "finesse pitcher," so we'll just go with "crafty lefty."

Comments

Lidge loses his closing role: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260815118 I said last October I didn't think that Lidge wasn going to be able to rebound too well from those big HR's he gave up in the playoffs. Looks like I was right about something. I know blind squirel, nut, blah blah...:) From Oct. 25: "(I) do believe he (Lidge) won't be the same (as good) from now on."

In interesting news, Pudge was forced to play 2nd base for Detroit when Polanco seperated his shoulder... Because Brandon Inge had already been used as a defensive replacement, Rodriguez had to move from catcher to second base, with Vance Wilson taking over behind the plate. Rodriguez had never played second base in 2,256 previous major and minor league games. Wow "I knew right away," Rodriguez said, adding that he played second in Little League and third before turning pro. "I've taken groundballs throughout the season, so if the team needs me, I'm ready."

I saw that MikeC, that was very interesting. But how did he play 2B without a 2B glove? Cedeno couldn't play 2B without a 2B glove. Polanco going on DL with that seperated shoulder: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2551290 Oh, and it says: "Rodriguez also used Polanco's glove, which has the Dominican flag sewn on it."

I can't believe that the Tigers manager would allow Pudge to play 2nd without his own 2nd baseman's glove, and without at least 3-4 days off to work on his footwork. How irresponsible. And confirming previous reports, Cubs.com now has O'Malley listed as today's starter.

But how did he play 2B without a 2B glove? Cedeno couldn't play 2B without a 2B glove. Manny...are you making fun of Dusty? Because that was the excuse that Dusty gave... To be fair to Dusty/Cedeno/the Cubs - there is a big difference between choosing to play someone at 2b and needing to play someone at 2b in an emergency.

Would it make sense to claim Soriano off waivers or would that be a bad idea, considering he will be a FA at the end of the year? Soriano does nothing for the 2006 Cubs, but if it gives the team the inside track to sign him for next year, it might be worth it.

Very very worth it. Won't cost much and will give him an idea of what it would be like to play for the Cubs. Like an 6 week audition.

It would make a whole lot of sense to claim Soriano. However, about a dozen teams will probably make claims, and he will almost certainly be pulled back and kept by the Nats. Its a lot like when Andrew Jones was just put on waivers by the Braves. It looks like a nice opportunity, but he's not going anywhere.

according to the article the National league would be first and by worst record. So unless Pittsburgh does nothing, the Cubs would be first.

Jones and Soriano are two different situations completely. Just on contracts alone.

CF Pierre 2B Theriot C Barrett 3B ARam 1B Nevin RF Pagan LF Murton SS Perez P O'Malley

Good to see Murton in the lineup and Theriot gets another start for todays game But please tell why Neifi keeps starting for Izturis? Is Izturis tired from being on the DL most of the year? Is Neifi, Izturis equal, thus it makes no difference who is playing SS?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here, but doesn't a player have to clear waivers before he can be traded. So, even if the Cubs wanted to make a trade, a deal could only happen if no other teams put in a claim for him. Where the Cubs waiver priority would come into play is if Washington was willing to release him to the first team willing to pay his salary. But since the Nats will still get a minimum of a 1st round pick just for offering him arbitration, they will almost certainly end up revoking the waivers after a claim is made.

I suspect that Neifi (and Theroit for that matter) is starting today because Izturis played all 18 innings of a game that finished 12 hours ago. I can't complain about Neifi starting today. This is actually one of those spots where giving your bench players some playing time makes sense.

(as learned from this board) Once claimed off waivers the original team has ten day to work out a trade for the player or pull him back or let him go. You only have to clear waivers if there is a specific team you want to trade him to.

Would it make sense to claim Soriano off waivers or would that be a bad idea It would be rather pointless actually. Any team can put in a claim, if multiple teams claim him, the team with the top waiver position gets first dibs, but you'd have to give up big-time prospects who you've spent years developing for a guy who's going to walk in 6 weeks. Yeah you can get a 1st round pick for him or actually sign him, but you'll probably be giving up better players than you'll draft and Soriano is going to free agency. If the Cubs want him this off-season, just line up and get into the bidding war like everyone else without giving up any prospects.

Why is Neifi playing? He's been a pretty good hitter against lefties, but why sit Izturis? So they played 18 innings..so what?? It's their job...on long day...BFD. .256/.258/.306 since the all-star break. At least he's batting 8th. Look...Ryan Theriot!!!!!

Being that the Cubs are still in Playoff contention, it would be ridiculous not to put a claim in on Soriano. Can't let the Cards get him, he may help them win a game in Chicago!

Thanks for the Clarification Rob and Chad. It certainly wouldn't hurt to put in a waiver claim, but it woudln't be worth trading anything of value to get him. If the Nats will hand him over for the rest of the season and let the Cubs get a free first round pick great, but if not let them retract their offer.

The whole waiver thing confuses me. Why would Wasington put him on waivers at this point in the season? Are they just trying to dump the remainder of his '06 salary? Are they hoping to get a decent prospect? Or are they hoping a contender will claim him and then make a trade that eluded them prior to July 31?

if the Cubs put in a claim for Soriano, they basically block any other team from getting him. Not the way to build relationships with other GM's.

they wont let soriano walk for nothing less than top prospects. soriano is worth a 1st round and/or suplimental 1st pick if/when soriano leaves this offseason. that's the starting point for his price.

oh yeah...read the whole thread before posting so you dont repeat someone else. yeah...im new here. =p

answer #3 Sweet Lou, they're hoping someone claims him and they get the package they want. Although I'm guessing now that they're sure Soriano can't be resigned at the moment and would take a little less. But now that they've been resorted to going through waivers, there's a good chance some team will just end up blocking them from dealing him to a contender.

rag arm lefty's John Koronka vs Ryan O'Malley...compare and contrast.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.